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Four Creative Recipes for Clif Bar Aficionados

Adam Hodges | April 26, 2013

Clif BarsAs a general rule, energy bars should not be used as a replacement for meals or snacks throughout the day. Instead, they should be reserved for long training sessions when you need to replace calories to sustain energy levels. Better to reach for whole foods—that include fruits, nuts, vegetables, lean proteins—to fuel hunger and replenish nutrients between meals.

But I have to admit that I love Clif Bars—especially the chocolate chip and coconut chocolate chip flavors (although I’m quite fond of apricot, chocolate almond fudge…well, nearly all of the flavors when it comes down to it)—and I’ve often violated the general rule noted above when it comes to using Clif Bars as snacks. As long as it’s only occasional (and you’re not trying to live off the things like Gary Erickson, the Clif Bar founder, once tried), a Clif Bar can sometimes be a better alternative to less healthy choices (like cookies or a candy bar).

Here are a few ways I’ve made use of Clif Bars as a key ingredient in some serious pre- and post-workout refueling treats:

Clif Bars n’ Cream

Put a few scoops of yogurt in a bowl (plain or vanilla works best); then break up a Clif Bar into little chunks over the yogurt. Mix and enjoy. This makes a good substitute for a bowl of cookies and ice cream.

Clif Bar Trail Mix

Start with your favorite trail mix recipe, whether it’s good old raisins and peanuts (gorp) or another combination of fruits and nuts (I like almonds, cashews, walnuts, raisins, and apricots). Then cut up a Clif Bar into small pieces and add to the mix. The Clif Bar adds a nice texture to the trail mix, not to mention it energizes an already energy-packed snack.

Clif Bar with Almond Butter

Take your favorite natural almond butter (or peanut butter); and spread it on top of a Clif Bar. Stop here or add a layer of sliced bananas on top of the almond butter. Although I usually have just bananas with almond butter when I need to get an alpine start, I occasionally do the Clif Bar with almond butter combination before a key morning workout as well as on race day morning.

Chocolatey Clif Bars

This recipe adds a chocolate twist the one above. Take chocolate almond butter (or another type of chocolate nut butter, like peanut or hazelnut) and spread it on top of a Clif Bar. The chocolate chip or coconut chocolate chip Clif Bars work well as a base, or you can really double up on the chocolate with chocolate or chocolate almond fudge Clif Bars. Another variation on this recipe is to simply use regular almond butter and then add semi-sweet chocolate chips on top of the almond butter. Either way, this acts as a tasty dessert when you need a chocolate fix.

Again, these Clif Bar “recipes” are for occasional use and should not replace well balanced meals with whole foods. But, in moderation, Clif Bars can be enjoyed in myriad ways as an occasional splurge for hungry athletes. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Nutrition Tips Tagged With: Eating, Recipes

Adam Hodges

About Adam Hodges

Adam Hodges, PhD, is a trail runner, multisport athlete, and coach with credentials from USA Triathlon and the American College of Sports Medicine. In addition to coaching multisport athletes, he has coached high school cross country and track runners in California and masters swimmers in Colorado and California. As a USAT All-American triathlete, he has competed in the ITU World Triathlon Championships, the ITU World Duathlon Championships, and the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. As a masters runner, he has won a series title in the XTERRA SoCal Trail Series. He began running in his youth and enjoys passing on the knowledge and experience he has gained over the years to both new and experienced athletes seeking to maximize enjoyment, competitiveness, and longevity in the sport.

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